House sends Obama stopgap spending bill to avoid government shutdown

House clears stopgap spending bill for Obama

WASHINGTON — With battle-weary lawmakers eager to bolt the Capital, the House is sending President Barack Obama a stopgap spending bill that’s needed to avert a government shutdown on Friday.

The bill funds the government at current levels through early December. Lawmakers will return after the elections to vote on extending tax cuts and, perhaps, vote on a catchall spending bill wrapping all of Congress’ unfinished spending bills into one giant measure.

Republicans said the stopgap passed measure Wednesday should have forced agencies to operate at lower levels instead of a freeze.

A stopgap spending bill is required every year to avoid a government shutdown like the partial shutterings in 1995-96 that cost the Republicans politically.